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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho bans state agencies from using AI models programmed with diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts
Last action · March 3, 2026: Introduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
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What This Bill Would Do
Idaho prohibits state agencies and higher education institutions from purchasing or using s that are programmed to incorporate concepts or s unless explicitly requested by the user. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and approval due to a declared emergency.
State agencies and public universities must alter their technology procurement standards and vendor contracts to ensure artificial intelligence systems comply with strict neutrality and truth-seeking principles, establishing vendor compliance audits and contract termination rules for noncompliance.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State agencies and institutions of higher education
State government entities and public universities must alter their AI procurement standards, review existing models, and update vendor contracts to ensure compliance with neutrality rules.
AI vendors contracting with the state
Vendors must provide state agencies with access to backend technical materials like system prompts, training directives, and source code, and risk contract termination for noncompliance.
Key Facts
- State agencies and higher education institutions are prohibited from procuring or using large language models that alter factual information to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) outcomes.
- AI models used by state agencies must prioritize factual accuracy, historical fidelity, scientific inquiry, and objectivity.
- AI models must function as neutral tools and cannot intentionally manipulate outputs to advance an ideological agenda unless explicitly requested by the user.
- Contracts with AI vendors must require vendor-provided access to system prompts, content policies, model specifications, training directives, and source code to verify compliance.
Show all 8 facts
- Agencies may terminate contracts and require vendors to bear decommissioning costs following a finding of material noncompliance and a cure period.
- Agencies are authorized to use state personnel or independent technical experts to conduct compliance reviews.
- The measure does not regulate private speech, restrict AI systems outside state government, mandate ideological viewpoints, or create a private right of action.
- The act takes effect immediately upon passage and approval due to an emergency declaration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can state agencies still use AI to summarize historical or academic texts regarding DEI concepts?
What happens if an AI vendor fails to comply with the new neutrality standards?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
8 actions- Mar 3, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
- Mar 3, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 2, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 56-11-3 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Brown), Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Manwaring, McCann, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – Berch, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Haws(Woller), Leavitt, Marmon, Mathias, Thompson Absent – Furniss, Mickelsen, Rubel Floor Sponsor - Shirts Title apvd - to Senate
- Feb 27, 2026U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, March 2, 2026
- Feb 26, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Feb 25, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
Show 2 earlier actions
- Feb 17, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Environment, Energy & Technology
- Feb 16, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State Technology Procurement Standards
Idaho is implementing explicit statutory boundaries on the software architecture and training datasets permitted in state-contracted artificial intelligence tools.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz65Current news / social attention level
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